Airplane mobility system for passengers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11123248-B2
Application number	US-201815955316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2018
Priority date	Oct 19, 2015
Publication date	Sep 21, 2021
Grant date	Sep 21, 2021

Abstract

The disclosure refers to an airplane's own mobility system. For supporting a passenger with reduced mobility on board an airplane and for simplifying as much as possible the use of a toilette, a mobility system for passengers with reduced mobility is provided. The mobility system includes an onboard toilette spatial unit having an entrance zone, an entrance door, and a toilette using zone with a toilette. Moreover, a movement device with a passenger carrying equipment is provided, which is moveable at least from the entrance zone to the toilette using zone and supported in the ceiling area. The passenger carrying equipment includes a seat device enabling a passenger a seat like position. For using the toilette, a passenger is movable back and forth with the movement device from the entrance zone to the toilette using zone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airplane mobility system for passengers with reduced mobility, the airplane mobility system comprising:
an onboard lavatory comprising:
an entrance door; and
a toilette; and

a movement device comprising:
a passenger carrying equipment, which is at least movable from proximate the entrance door to proximate the toilette and is supported in a ceiling of the onboard lavatory; and
a rail in the ceiling of the onboard lavatory, in which the passenger carrying equipment is movably supported, wherein the rail extends in the ceiling at least from an area proximate the entrance door into an area proximate the toilette;

wherein the passenger carrying equipment comprises a seat device enabling a passenger a seat like position;
wherein the passenger is moveable back and forth with the movement device from proximate the entrance door to proximate the toilette for using the toilette;
wherein the rail extends via the area proximate the entrance door into an aisle zone external to the onboard lavatory; and
wherein the passenger carrying equipment is moveable into the aisle zone.

2. The mobility system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the rail in the ceiling extends from the aisle zone external to the onboard lavatory as far as to a cabin section, which has at least one passenger seat; and
the passenger carrying equipment is movable into the cabin section.

3. The mobility system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the onboard lavatory comprises a water basin; and
the water basin is usable by the passenger when located in the seat device.

4. The mobility system according to claim 1 , wherein the movement device comprises a moving equipment, which can be moved in a horizontal direction, and by which the passenger carrying equipment is supported.

5. The mobility system according to claim 4 , wherein the moving equipment comprises a movement unit, which is movable along a rail extending in the ceiling.

6. The mobility system according to claim 5 , wherein the movement unit comprises a slide, which comprises two pairs of rolls whose axis are pivotably supported to each other via a middle part.

7. The mobility system according to claim 5 , wherein:
the movement unit comprises a slide, which comprises two pairs of rolls, between which a securing plate is provided, which is, in operation, located partially above inwardly extending projections of a lower rail segment; and
the passenger carrying equipment is supported on the securing plate.

8. The mobility system according to claim 5 , wherein:
the movement unit comprises an automotive slide with an electrical drive;
the slide comprises storage elements for storing energy; and
the storage elements are formed with charging interfaces, which are in contact with current sources at one or more end points of the rail to charge the storage elements, when required.

9. The mobility system according to claim 1 , wherein the seat device is movably supported in height.

10. The mobility system according to claim 1 , wherein the seat device comprises a seat loop equipment, which can be temporarily mounted around a passenger.

11. The mobility system according to claim 1 , wherein the seat device comprises two anchoring devices for temporarily anchoring the seat device at two spaced bearing points provided in a floor area, at a seat structure, at a monument structure, and/or at a cabin wall.

12. A cabin segment for an airplane, comprising:
at least a portion of a lounge spatial unit comprising a lounge area with a plurality of passenger seats;
at least an aisle zone for movement of one or more passengers within the cabin segment;
an onboard lavatory comprising:
a toilette; and
an entrance door; and

an airplane mobility system for the onboard lavatory, the airplane mobility system comprising:
a movement device comprising:
a passenger carrying equipment, which is at least movable from proximate the entrance door to proximate the toilette and is supported in at least a ceiling of the onboard lavatory; and
a rail in the ceiling of the onboard lavatory, in which the passenger carrying equipment is movably supported, wherein the rail extends in the ceiling at least from an area proximate the entrance door into an area proximate the toilette;

wherein the passenger carrying equipment comprises a seat device enabling a passenger of the one or more passengers with reduced mobility a seat like position;
wherein the passenger is moveable back and forth with the movement device from proximate the entrance door to proximate the toilette for using the toilette;
wherein the rail extends via the area proximate the entrance door into an aisle zone external to the onboard lavatory;
wherein the passenger carrying equipment is moveable into the aisle zone; and
wherein the passenger is enabled by the airplane mobility system to use the toilette during a stay in the cabin segment.

13. An airplane comprising:
a lounge area with a plurality of passenger seats; and
an airplane mobility system for a passenger with reduced mobility, the airplane mobility system comprising:
an onboard lavatory comprising:
an entrance door; and
a toilette; and

a movement device comprising:
a passenger carrying equipment, which is at least movable from proximate the entrance door to proximate the toilette and is supported in at least a ceiling of the onboard lavatory; and
a rail in the ceiling of the onboard lavatory, in which the passenger carrying equipment is movably supported, wherein the rail extends in the ceiling at least from an area proximate the entrance door into an area proximate the toilette;

wherein the passenger carrying equipment comprises a seat device enabling the passenger with reduced mobility a seat like position;
wherein the movement device is configured to move the passenger with reduced mobility back and forth from proximate the entrance door to proximate the toilette to allow the passenger with reduced mobility to use the toilette;
wherein the rail extends via the area proximate the entrance door into an aisle zone external to the onboard lavatory;
wherein the passenger carrying equipment is moveable into the aisle zone; and
wherein the passenger with reduced mobility is enabled by the airplane mobility system to use the toilette during a stay in the lounge area.

14. The airplane according to claim 13 , wherein:
the lounge area is formed by a cabin segment; and
the mobility system is arranged in the cabin segment.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Seibt Christian

Classifications

• B64D11/02 Primary

  Toilet fittings · CPC title

• A61G7/1042

  Rail systems (walking aids with suspension devices A61H3/008) · CPC title

• A61G7/1051

  Flexible harnesses or slings · CPC title

• A61G2220/10

  Aircrafts · CPC title

• A61G7/1015

  Cables, chains or cords · CPC title